Will the next generation Powerbooks and iBooks still wear the G4 processor?

[th.Sentinel]

Motorola, with the help of IBM, just released a new version of its G4 processor with clockspeeds up to 1,5 Ghz. The main difference between the old and the new version is the amount of power that is used: 19 W vs 21 W. The lower-price processor uses only 9 W on 1,17 Ghz.

So it will take some time before we start seeing G5 powerbooks shipped...  

For more info check here.

[BFG]

I wouldn't be so sure sent, the new G5 chips in the xserves, are there becasuse their power useage was considerably reduced. In fact all the main components for a G5 Laptop are now inplace and available... If we don't start getting some very strong wiffs of G5 laptops by the summer i would be very very surprised.

im guessing the ibooks and imacs will stay with the G4s for the moment, The new pro line will move and devlope on the G5 road map just as the cosumer i computers will follow the G4 roadmap... which does look extreamly healthy.

[cO.gabe]

yeah i agree with BFG... Apple always has machines for the "poor" people.  As soon as they take away the low-end models, they will start losing business to the people who just buy macs for their ease of use, not for the technicalities that many of us rant about.  For people who use their computer solely for word processing and checking their email, there is no difference between a G3, G4, and a G5 - except the price.  As soon as you take away the G3s and G4s, you are forcing people to pay more for something they don't need.  Thats when they switch to PCs.

[BFG]

Just thinking about it..... We might well see speedbumped G4 Laptops  running the  PowerPC MPC7447.

Might be that this would be the final G4 Powerbooks before we see the introduction of the G5power books in the *cough* summer *cough*

[Ace]

Personally, I think the update to G5 Powerbooks is inevitably part of the next Powerbook upgrade cycle. They managed to slide 2x2 GHz G5's in the XServe, so I would be dismayed if they couldn't as least fit a 1.6 GHz G5 in the next Powerbook. At 1.6 GHz, you are introducing a significant upgrade in clock speed, not to mention the architectural advancements of the G5 over the G4.

[th.Sentinel]

I was thinking the same way you guys did, altough I forgot the xserve's architecture...

Well I guess the future will show if we get this kind of line-up:

- Faster Dual G5 Powermacs
- Faster Xserves with more storage
(I heard somewhere they released a Terabyte HD)
- Powerbook G5 with the Xserve processor
- New iMac (mb Cube) with the slower low-end G5 and a lower price.
- iBook with the faster new G4
(- eMac with the faster new G4)

I actually hope they loose the eMac, because its cutting the iMac's tails... They just need to lower the price on the iMac.

[Supernatural Pie]

They just need to lower the price on the iMac.

I actually hope that they don't. Why, you ask? I don't want them to lower it so much that they convince me that I'll save enough money that it wouldn't be worth it to get the G5.

By the way, whoever hasn't heard my equation for getting a $900 G5, here it is:

After talking with Ghost (Apple employee), he made it clear that he did not know when there would be a new line of G5's coming out. However, he said that if they did release new G5's, they would release a line of them, and the fastest in the new line would be priced close to where the dual 2 ghz is right now. Second, there have been MANY rumors about March being the month of a new G5 lineup.

That being said...

If the fastest G5 became $3000, there would then be two somewhat slower models in the new lineup. Then of course there's the dual 2.0, the single 2.0, the dual 1.8, the single 1.8, and the 1.6. That's a lot of G5's, and the highest price is $3000. Therefore, if each model then decreased by a couple hundred, one could estimate that 1.6 would trail the pack at around $1300. However, that's with a superdrive. Apple claims that the 1.6's start at $1800. Not true. Take out the superdrive and you're down to about $1600. Now, many people out there are in school or college right now, so for an educational discount, go ahead and knock off another $200. Now we're down to $1400. That's $400 knocked off the price of a G5. But wait.... Didn't we just say that the 1.6 would be down to the advertised price of $1300? Chop off the $400 we just found, and you've got yourself a Nine Hundred Dollar G5.

Pocketchange.

[Ace]

They just need to lower the price on the iMac.

I actually hope that they don't. Why, you ask? I don't want them to lower it so much that they convince me that I'll save enough money that it wouldn't be worth it to get the G5.

By the way, whoever hasn't heard my equation for getting a $900 G5, here it is:

After talking with Ghost (Apple employee), he made it clear that he did not know when there would be a new line of G5's coming out. However, he said that if they did release new G5's, they would release a line of them, and the fastest in the new line would be priced close to where the dual 2 ghz is right now. Second, there have been MANY rumors about March being the month of a new G5 lineup.

That being said...

If the fastest G5 became $3000, there would then be two somewhat slower models in the new lineup. Then of course there's the dual 2.0, the single 2.0, the dual 1.8, the single 1.8, and the 1.6. That's a lot of G5's, and the highest price is $3000. Therefore, if each model then decreased by a couple hundred, one could estimate that 1.6 would trail the pack at around $1300. However, that's with a superdrive. Apple claims that the 1.6's start at $1800. Not true. Take out the superdrive and you're down to about $1600. Now, many people out there are in school or college right now, so for an educational discount, go ahead and knock off another $200. Now we're down to $1400. That's $400 knocked off the price of a G5. But wait.... Didn't we just say that the 1.6 would be down to the advertised price of $1300? Chop off the $400 we just found, and you've got yourself a Nine Hundred Dollar G5.

Pocketchange.

ThinkSecret reported that there won't be new G5s till March, and I trust them more than any rumor site by far.

As for your math, you forget one key fact: after Apple releases new G5s, they will no longer be selling new 1.6/1.8 models. You will have to find one lying around at a retailer or used. Unfortunately for you in this instance, Macs hold their value incredibly well. You can still find Quicksilvers going for over $1000 on eBay. In other words, don't expect to see a G5 sell for that low for a long time.

[Supernatural Pie]

As for your math, you forget one key fact: after Apple releases new G5s, they will no longer be selling new 1.6/1.8 models.

Fuck... I didn't consider that...

[BTs_Mysterio]

For those who aren't aware, the Xserve processor is the 90nm PPC970FX. The clock speeds can go as high as 2.6 on the 970FX, not to mention at slower clock rates 1.6-1.8 it can run very cool. I doubt we'll see the new G4 (MPC7447) in the Powerbooks. It will go to the iBooks and more likely iMacs. The iMac can recive a speed bump to currently. The iBook can't, or it would surpass the PB. WWDC will mark the day of:

3.2-3.4 GHz G5s
G5 powerbooks (1.6-1.8GHz)

and possibly:
Previewed 10.4
Cheaper nicer iMacs
Pro-sumer G5

Good year.

[Supernatural Pie]

What's your source?

I highly doubt that they'll be releasing G5 powerbooks at WWDC.

[BFG]

IF they come before mid june i'll eat my hat...

ok, maybe i'll just nibble at the edge...